Outlet box



Sept. 13,1927. 1,642.14?.v

H. R. COOK OUTLET Box Filed March 9, 1 925 Patented Sept. i 13, 1927.

l UNITED N STATES PATENT ioFFlcE.

HERBERT RAY COOK, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHICAGO FUSE MFG. CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

OUTLET Box.

Application lcdMarch 9, 1925.V Serial No.f13,989.

The invention relates to outletboxes par-i ticularly adapted for use in partition walls -of buildings, this application being acontinuation in part of mycopending application, Serial No. 617,663, filed Feb. 8, 1923.

It is sometimes desirable to have these boxes located in the same relative positions in such walls uniformly throughout a building, and this frequently involves the 'necessity of locating ina given partition two boxes directly opposed to each other but opening upon opposite sides of the partition. Vhen the partition is of sufficient thickness no difficulty is encountered, but in the case of the so-called solid plaster wall which is made relatively thin, approximately two inches in thickness, it has been found necessary when using outlet boxes of the type heretofore constructed, to arrange them in offset relation, because of Atheir depth.A

This.y of course, destroys the desired uniformity.

The obj-ect of my invention is to produce an outlet box duplex in character, so as to overcome the difliculty above referred to, and I attain this object by a unita-ry construction providing in effect two boxes arranged directly opposite with their open faces substantially flush with opposite faces of the partition wall in which the unit is inserted.

A special object ofthe invention is to provide a construction for the unit which reduces to a minimum the cost of manufacture.

A further object is to Vprovide a duplex box in which the separating partition is provided with knocleouts which connect the two compartments adjacent the point of entry of a conduit to the box.

In the accompanying drawings I have illust-rated an outlet unit embodying my in vention in a preferred manner. Vhile only one form is thus shown, it is contemplated that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a partition wall, with my improved outlet box in positiontherein. Fig. 2 is a face view of the box .looking from the left in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing details of construction.

The partition wall for which my box is particularly adapted is designated by the t in the metal lath before the application of the plaster which subsequently surrounds it. It comprises a peripheral wall 8 in the form of a section of a tube having acentral parti- .tion plate 9 therein which divides the unit into two compartments 10 and 10"1L for each side of thewall. This partition plate may be secured Vin the box in any suitable way, the partition in the present instancehaving integral lugs 9 on its edge fitting intov recesses in the box wall. This peripheral wall ofthe box herein shownv is formed from a strip of metal, the edges' 821 of which are se- -cured together in abutting relation by welding. The partition may be put in place with the lugs engaging in the recesses before the ends of the peripheral wall are drawn together and welded, or it may be originally cupped and then forced into the box wall already closed. V

In each of the four sides of the peripheral wall 8 is provided a knock-out or plug 11 located substantially centrally of the wall. Ordinarily a bushing 11a is mounted in the wall opening through which the wires enter. To make room for the bushing the partition plate 9 is also provided with knock-outs 12 preferably semi-circular in form, which terminate at the periphery ofthe partition adjacent the respective wall lrnoclcouts 11. This enables wires, inserted into the box through an opening formed by removing one of the knock-outs 11 and the adjacent partition knock-out 12 to be branched to one side or the other of the partition into one or the other of the compartments 10 and 10a. VThe remaining knock-outs in the partitionl and wall are not disturbed so that the partition remains intact to completely separate the compartments of the'box except at the point where the wires are to be branched. I have indicated in Fig. 1 a

conduit 13 enclosing wires 14C which are branched as at 15 and lead into the compartments 10 and 10EL through the recess 12*l formed by removing one of the knock-outs 12. A suitable clamp 16 is providedffor Securing the conduit in the opening formed by removing the knock-out 11.

The plate 9.is adapted for securing upon opposite sides of the partition threaded fixture studs 17 to which lamp fixtures may be secured. Any suitable type of fixture stu-d may be provided. Each of these fixture studs 17 employed in the pre-sent instance is formed rigid with a spider-18, the studs having iared mouths 19 at their lpoint of connection with the spider. Apertures 2O are thus formed between the arms of the spider through which the branch wires may be entered so as to lead `out from the stud centrally of the compartment. The spiders 18 upon opposite sides of the partition are secured, it will be noted, 'by the same bolts 21.

The usual face or cover plates (not shown) may be secured upon opposite faces of the box as by means of screws 22 entered through threaded openings in inwardly projecting lugs 23 and 24, in a well known manner.

It will be apparent that the duplex box which I have thus provided renders it possible, `even in thin partition wall construction, to locate boxes in a predetermined position in the wall uniformly throughout the building. The cost of construction of the unit is less than two separate boxes of the type heretofore used, and the cost of installation is aflso reduced.

I claiin as my invention:

1. A duplex outlet box comprising, in combination, a peripheral wall in theforrn of a tube section having knock-outs therein, a partition plateattached to the inner side of said wall substantially atthe center thereof, said plateA having semi-circular knock-outs at its periphery vadjacent the knock-outs of said wall, said plate being adapted for securing fixture studs on both sides thereof.

2. A duplex outlet box having a substantially. straight peripheral Wall containing a knock-out, a partition plate forming two separated compartments in said box, said partition having a knock-out therein adapted to Abe Vremoved to form a recess in the periphery of the partition adjacent the lrnockout of said wall.

3. A duplex outlet box havinga .peripheral Awall in the form of a tube section contain ing an opening for a conduit into said Lbox, a partition plate forming two substantially equal separated compartments in said box, said partition having an opening therein forming a .recess in the peripheryvof the partition adjacentthe opening of said wall.

In testimony whereof, I have 'hereunto vaffixed my signature.

HERBERT RAY COOK. 

